Brian Dettmer's Book Art

by Shan Williams

BRIANDETTMER is a New York-based artist known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. His work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries, museums and art centers all over the globe and has been featured on the CBS Evening News, and other myriad media. Pieces can also be found in several public and private collections throughout the US, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Below is a statement taken from Dettmer’s site about his reasons for working with books.

“The age of information in physical form is waning. As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. Newer media swiftly flips forms, unrestricted by the weight of material and the responsibility of history. In the tangible world we are left with a frozen material but in the intangible world we may be left with nothing. History is lost as formats change from physical stability to digital distress.

The richness and depth of the book is universally respected yet often undiscovered as the monopoly of the form and relevance of the information fades over time. The book’s intended function has decreased and the form remains linear in a non-linear world. By altering physical forms of information and shifting preconceived functions, new and unexpected roles emerge. This is the area I currently operate in. Through meticulous excavation or concise alteration I edit or dissect communicative objects or systems such as books, maps, tapes and other media. The medium’s role transforms. Its content is recontextualized and new meanings or interpretations emerge.”

Whether or not you agree with his reasoning, you have to admit that Dettmer’s artistry is beautiful and I for one, wouldn’t mind owning a piece of his art but at an estimated £300,000 I think I’ll have to be satisfied with just looking at the images on my Laptop.